I’m usually no big fan of “Usability” studies — largely because I think the term itself is inaccurate — but I am going to make an exception here.
This post is about a couple of articles that use the Goldilocks principle to test designs. The Goldilocks principle is just what you think it is: after trying something that is too hot, hard or whatever, and something else that is too cold, soft, blah blah you settle on one that is just right.
Like a design that has too many elements, then one that has too few, and finally one that is j-u-s-t right.
In fact, the researchers found that the number of elements and symmetry played an important part in how subjects rated pages. There are lessons to be learned from the testing of others.
More important, the article pointed out that getting someone with experience to critique your work is not just helpful, it’s smart.
Why don’t you let News Design School help you by performing a video critique of a design, even just a page idea, before you reveal your new design? E-mail me with PDFs of your pages or with inquiries.
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